FORMULA 1
Gabriel Bortoleto drove the Swiss team’s car for the first time
Published on December 10, 2024 at 11:29
Gabriel Bortoleto made his Sauber debut Credit: Michael Potts F1/Shutterstock.com
Gabriel Bortoleto made his debut at Sauber this Tuesday (10). The Brazilian drove the Swiss Formula 1 team’s car for the first time in the post-season test, in Abu Dhabi, in the United Arab Emirates. Bortoleto, who will be the team’s starter in 2025, scored the eighth fastest time in the morning, ahead of compatriot Felipe Drugovich, owner of the 13th best time of the session.
Bortoleto was announced by Sauber-Audi last month as its starting driver for the 2025 Formula 1 season. He will form a pair with the experienced German Nico Hülkenberg, who left Haas to reinforce the Swiss team. In the first direct clash between the two, the Brazilian came out on top. Hülkenberg only had the 17th time, with 1min26s351.
The Brazilian driver was eighth, with 1min25s306, on the back of his Formula 2 victory last weekend. He was champion of the main category for access to F-1 in his first season in the championship, just as he had done last year, in Formula 3.
It was the first time that Bortoleto drove an F-1 car in an official session of the category. Until then, he had only tested old McLaren models, a team for which he was a test driver until the end of the season, in private sessions.
Another Brazilian on the Yas Marina International Circuit track was Felipe Drugovich. The Aston Martin reserve driver posted the 13th time, with 1min25s819. He had already driven in the first free practice session at the Abu Dhabi GP, last weekend, when he received praise for his good performance. Drugovich did not get a place on the F1 grid in 2025.
F1 collective tests are coordinated by Pirelli to test the tires to be used next season. Teams can use a starter in one of the sessions, but must give newcomers a place for the other, held in the afternoon.
This morning, the fastest was Spaniard Carlos Sainz Jr., making his debut for Williams, the team he will defend from 2025 after leaving Ferrari. He was closely followed by Charles Leclerc, from the Italian team, and by Lando Norris, winner of Sunday’s GP and runner-up of the season.
Among other starters who took to the track in the morning, George Russell presented the most below-expected result, with a modest 18th place, for Mercedes. And Frenchman Esteban Ocon made his debut for Haas, after leaving Alpine – he was released before the last stage of the championship. He recorded the worst time of the session, with 1min27s903.
Check out the results of the morning tests in Abu Dhabi:
1º – Carlos Sainz Jr. (ESP/Williams), 1min24s435
2nd – Charles Leclerc (MON/Ferrari), 1min24s561
3º – Lando Norris (ING/McLaren), 1min24s678
4º – Jack Doohan (AUS/Alpine), 1min24s730
5º – Frederik Vesti (DIN/Mercedes), 1min25s159
6º – Pato O’Ward (MEX/McLaren), 1min25s201s
7th – Antonio Fuoco (ITA/Ferrari), 1min25s238
8th – Gabriel Bortoleto (BRA/Sauber), 1min25s306
9º – Luke Browning (ING/Williams), 1min25s409
10th – Paul Aron (EST/Alpine), 1min25s561
11º – Yuki Tsunoda (JAP/Red Bull), 1min25s568
12º – Isack Hadjar (ARL/Red BulL), 1min25s605
13th – Felipe Drugovich (BRA/Aston Martin), 1min25s819
14th – Liam Lawson (NZL/RB), 1min26s016
15th – Jak Crawford (USA/Aston Martin), 1min26s066
16º – Ayumu Iwasa (JAP/RB), 1min26s251
17º – Nico Hülkenberg (ALE/Sauber), 1min26s351
18º – George Russell (ING/Mercedes), 1min26s981
19º – Ryo Hirakawa (JAP/Haas), 1min27s526
20th – Esteban Ocon (FRA/Haas), 1min27s9
